"We found that the presence of Blastocystis in the human gut is linked with a better cardiometabolic profile and lower obesity rates," said the study's co-lead Francesco Asnicar of the University of Trento, Italy.
The study put 1,124 participants on a Blastocystis-rich diet of less-processed and fiber-rich foods, which "significantly improved the quality of their diet and weight loss," said Asnicar.
"So far, [the] research has focused on the bacterial [microbiome], but the role of other microorganisms, including Blastocystis, is largely understudied," said the study's other co-lead Elisa Piperni of the University of Trento, Italy.
"Up to now, there was no evidence of any direct role for Blastocystis in promoting health. To be on the safe side, all Blastocystis were categorized as a harmful intestinal parasite," said Sara Vieira-Silva, a microbiologist at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz in Germany.
[
Collection
]
[
|
...
]